Evening and distributing machine



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,136

L. A. coeswsu.

EVENING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Original Filed March 26, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 1 derfi Hays weZZ lea Feb. 26, 1929.

L. A. OGsWELL EVENING AND ms'mau'rms ucums Original Filed March 26, 19244 Sheets-Sheet 2 jar/e7 2"" 67214. Coyawel Z Feb. 26, 1929.-

L. A. COGSWELL EVENING AND DISTRIBUTING IIACHINE Original Filed March26, 1924 4 sheets-s het I jar/@7175)":

lea 72,4. Coyswel Z Feb. 26, 1929.

A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEANDER A. COGSVIELL, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO LACENEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORA- TION OFMAINE.

Application filed March 26, 1924, Serial No. 701,999. Renewed July 13,1928.

This invention relates to grading machines of the well known Nicholstype by which the grade of successive blanks of stock, such as died outpieces of leather for soles, heel lifts,

or the like, is measured or detect-ed in accordance with the thicknessof the thinnest spot felt of, and the grade so determined is utilized bygrading means, responsiveto the grade detection, for grading the stock,as by evening or skiving, stamping or marking, indicating, sorting ordistributing, or performing all or any number of such gradingoperations.

The present invention has to do more particularly with sorting ordistrilmting, and constitutes an improvement upon, or modification ofthe invention described in an application for Letters Patent of theUnited States filed by me August 20, 1921, Serial No. 494,- 009, for anautomatic top lift grading and distributing machine.

In the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation (partly in section) of an evening anddistributing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the delivery end of the machine without thedistributing chute;

Fig. 3 is a section in plan on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial central longitudinal section of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the distributor positioning cams; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view in plan of the slide bar for controlling thegrading means.

The hopper or magazine 1 for holding a stack of top lifts or otherblanks of stock 2 comprises uprights 3 and 4 adjustably mounted on abracket 5 which serves as the bottom of the hopper and supports thestack of lifts in position between the uprights. During the operationof'the machine a blank after leaving the evening mechanism at thedelivcry end of the machine the right hand end as viewed in Fig. effectsa swinging movement of an arm 6 which is fast on a rock shaft 7 Thisresults in a single reciprocatory move ment being imparted to a feedslide 8 mounted in ways on the bracket 5. A pawl 9 on slide 8 engagesthe rear edge of the lowermost 59 blank 2 in the stack when the slide 8is moved to the left, and feeds the blank forward between the detectingrolls 10 and 11 when the A movable slide 8 is moved to the right.

no part of stop foot 12 on upright 4 forming the present invention andtherefore not described in'detail) prevents the feeding forward of morethan one blank at a time by the slide 8.

The mechanism by which the outgoing blank at the delivery end of themachine actuates the feeding mechanism includes the rock shaft 7 uponwhich is fixed the arm 6 and also an arm 13 outside of the frame. Arm 13is connected by a link 14 with a latch lever 15 fulcrumed at 16 ontheframe of the machine, and cooperating with a stud 17 on a clutchcontrolling arm 18. The clutch con trolling arm 18, link 14 and latchlever 15 are all yieldingly urged toward the left (Fig. 4) by springs,not shown. The clutch mechanism is substantially similar to that shownin my said application Serial No. 494,009. Normally the clutchcontrolling arm 18 is held by its spring in a position to hold theclutch disengaged and maintain the feeding mechanism at rest. When,however, a blank leaves the delivery rolls 90, 91, the rotation of roll91 acting through a cam (as hereinafter described) actuates the arm 6and theconnections just described to swing the clutch lever 18, therebyengaging the clutch and connecting the feeding mechanism to thecontinuously rotating shaft 20 of the lower detector roll 10 during onerevolution thereof, at the end of which the clutch arm 18, which wasonly momentarily displaced by the outgoing blank,

automatically disengages the clutch and so disconnects the feedingmechanism from the shaft; One clutch member is fast on shaft 20, and theother clutch member is the end or face of a gear 19 which is loosely andslidably mounted on shaft 20. When this gear is shifted by clutch lever18 to connect it to the fixed clutch member on shaft 20, it acts throughintermediate gear 21 to drive gear 22 on a short shaft 23 (see Fig. 3)which carries a cam 24 and crank arm 25. The crank arm 25 is connectedby a link 26 with the upper end of a rocker arm 27 pivotally sup-portedon the lower part of the machine frame 28. Rocker arm 27 has a branch27' connected by a pair of extensible springlinks 29 to feed slide 8.The train of gears through which the shaft 20 drives the short shaft 23is such as to impart one revolution to shaft 23'for each revolution ofshaft 20, when clutched thereto.

Shaft 20 is mounted in immovable bearings on the frame and is driven bya oontin;

uously actuated feed chain by which the blanks are transported from thedetector rolls 10 and 11 to the skiving mechanism. The chain 30 runs ona sprocket wheel 31 fast on the shaft 20 at the middle thereof, and asprocket Wheel 82 fast on the middle of shaft 33 near the delivery endof the machine. The shaft 33 carries a gear 34 which is outside of themachine frame and is driven through suitable intermediate gearing,sprockets and chain (not shown) from a gear 35 fast on the main drivingshaft 36. This main shaft 86 extends transversely through the machineand is provided with the usual tight and loose pulleys, not shown.

Driving shaft 36 also has on the end opposite to gear 35 a gear whichmeshes with and drives a gear 38 fast on shaft 39 of the lower feedingroll 40 of the skivingz; or evening mechanism. The upper feeding roll 41of the kiving or evening mechanism has a gear 43 on its shaft 42. Gear43 is driven through an intermediate gear 44 by gear 35 on the maindrive shaft 36, the gears 43 and 44 being relatively so disposed as topermit a limited vertical movement of gear 43 with roll 41.

The skiving mechanism includes a fixed knife 45 preferably of the singlebevel type as shown, fastened rigidly to the frame of the machine withits cutting edge close to the normal line of contact between the tworolls 40 and 41 and at the delivery side of the latter so as to operateupon each blank as it emerges from between the rolls. The lower roll 40has a roughened surface to engage the flesh side of the blank while theupper roll which engages the grain side is made smooth.

The lower skiving roll 40 is journaled in bearing blocks 46wl1ich slidein vertical ways 47 on the frame 28 of the machine. These bearing blocksare mounted on abridge piece or yoke 48 which is supported by twomassive springs 49, 49. Springs are seated on a cross bar 50 which formspartof the machine frame.

Just outside of each spring 49 is a rod 51 fastened at its upper end tobridge piece'48, the lower end of each rod extending loosely through bar50 and carrying nuts 52 which engage the under side of the cross bar tolimit the upward movementof the lower roll 40 and thereby determine itsnormal posi tion with relation to the cutting blade 45.

Theup ier shivi'ng roll 41 is journaled in bearing blocks 53 mounted inthe ways 47 on the frame 28. The blocks 53 normally rest on blocks Onthe top side of each bearing block 53 there is fixed a hardened steelcam or wedge member 54 whose upper side is in clined and stepped asusual in the Nichols machines. These two stepped wedge members cooperatewith two similar inverted stepped wedge members 55 fastened to the underside of the slide bar 56 mounted on the cross head of the machine frame.One side of bar fiti-lseel ig. 6) is made as a rack whose teeth 57 meshwith a pinion 58 fast on the upper end of an upright shaft 59 journaledin hearings on frame 28. At its lower end'is fixed another pinion 60(Fig. 3) which meshes with a segmental rack 61 forming part of a lever62.

Lover 62 is fulcrumed at 63 on the machine frame. The opposite arm oflever 62 is provided at its extermity with a segment 64 of ratchet teethfacing in one direction, and also with another segment 65 of'ratchetteeth on the under side of lever 62 and facing in the oppositedirection. These two sets of ratchet teeth (34 and 65 cooperaterespectively with two spring pressed locking pawls or latches 66 and($7, the former sliding inways on the frame of the machine and thelatter being pivoted on too frame. Lever has another arm 62 which isconnected by an adjustable link (38 to the lower end of an arm 69, whichis fast at its upper end to a transverse rock shaft 70 journaled inhearings on the frame of the machine.

l Vhen a heel lift or other blank is fed from the magazine 1 toward thedetector rolls 10 and 11, it is pushedunder a pivoted-gate 1 connectedby a link 72 to one arm of a bell crank lever 73 fulcrumed on the frameof the machine. The other arm of lever 7 3 actuates the locking latch66, through a pin extending from the side of the latch and retracts thelatch from ratchet 64 on lever 62, thus freeingthe slide bar 56, fromlatch 66. This unlocking action through the lifting of the gate 71occurs during the single rotation imparted to the transverse shart 23 bywhich the feed slide is operated and at a time when the high part of cam24 is in'engagement with the bail shaped lover or yoke 7 4 which itcontrols and operates. This yoke 74 is fulcrumed to opposite sides ofthe frame of the machine and has two arms 75 projecting under thetrunnions of the upper detector roll 11, which are journaled invertically sliding bridge piece or yoke 76 mounted in verti' slidewayson the frame of the machine. Each time the yoke lever 74 is actuated theupper detector roll 11 is lifted by the arms 75 to admit the blank beingfed. Pivoted to the slide 76 are two links 4'? which extend upwardly toa pair of arms 78 fast on rock shaft '21). The ends of a rim; 78 arecornice-ted to the upper ends of links l? by pins and slots. A spring(not sniown) yiehlingly tends to hold he pins of arn'is 78 in the upperends of the slots in links 77.

The slide '4" pressed downward by a pair of hell crank l- 2 9, as commonin the Nichols machi es, the upper ends of the le *ers beinghelo underthe tension of a heavy equalizer spring 80. as si one more'in detail inmy said application Serial No. 494,009. The surface of the lowerdetector roll. 10 is roughened and, being continuously driven by teedchain 30, serves to carry the blank torward into position where it willbe picked up by the chain and transported to the rading mechanisms.

As the blank is ted forward into position between the detector rolls theforward end of the blank engages and swings an arm 81 (Fig. 1) fast on arock shaft journaled in bearings on the machine trame. This rock shattalso has fixed to it an ar 83 connected by a link 8% with lever 85 whichnormally holds the locking latch 57 out ot engagen'ient with thesegmental rack 65 on the bottom of the arm 62. the teeth of rac positedirection to the teeth of the rack (34:, as more fully shown andexplained in Nichols Patent No. 1,0ei6213. This swinging of arm 81.lifts the lever 85 and permits the spring 67 to raise the latch 67 intoengagement with rack 65. Latch ($7 thus locks lever 62 against movementin the direction corresponding to the upward nioven'icnt of the detectorroll 11, but leaves it tree to respond to any turthcr downward movementof said upper detector roll so long as the gate 71 held elevated by theblanl, thus holding latch (36 out 01' engagement with rack 64.

It will thus be seen that after the blank has I come into positionbetween the two detector rolls and until the rear end thereof clears thegate 71 the lever 62 is automatically controlled by the upper detectorroll 11 so as to be ust-ed to accord with the thinnest part of the blankbeing felt of. This positioning of the lever 62 causes a simultaneouspositioning of the slide ba 56 to which it is connected, through theupright shaft 59, thereby a dj usting the cam blocks or stepped wedgesso to limit the upward movement ot the stepped wedges 54: andconsequently oi the upper skiving roll ll, to such position that theknite 4C5 will reduce the lift or blank to unitorin thicknesscorresponding to the thick? ot the thinnest part of the blank asdetermined by the detector rolls.

Gate 71 is positioned close to the upper detector roll so thatn'actically the whole oi the blank will have been measured by the tworolls and 11 when the rear end ot the blank clears the gate. A V .ctcdwith an arm 87 test on rock sl i the latter and the parts fastened to itin their normal position shown in Fig. l.

.Vhen the rear end ot' the blank clears gate 71, a spring 88 (Fig. 3)restores the latch (56 to locking engagement with the rack 64 on lever62 so that while the blank is travelling from said gate to the deliveryend of the machine and until he gate is lifted by another blank, thelatch 66 will remain in locking engagement with the lever 62.

From the foregoing it will be seen. that when the blank is passingbetween the detector rolls, the upper detector roll 11 is forced Kfacing in the op-.

down on the blank by the heavy spring 8 and the setting connectionsbetween the detector roll 11 and the slide bar56 will cause the latterto shift toward the lett as viewed in Fig. 2, as the detector roll 11encounters successively thinner spots in. the blank, each increment otthinness so determined by the detector roll 11 being taken up andretained by the latch and rack 67 and ($5. In case the detector roll 11encounters thicker spots in the blank being felt of, the detector roll11 will rise idly on account of the pin and slot connection between arm78 and'links 77.

As the blank is moved forward tron the detector rolls 10 and 11 by theteed chain 39 it passes under a spring pressed shoe 89 which holds itfirmly against the feed chain and also serves another purpose that will.presently appear. As the forward end of the blank enters between thecontinuously Triven rolls and ll of the skiving mechanism, the upperroll ll is lifted until the two stepped wedges 5st on the top of thejournal boxes 53 seat themselves against the stepped Wedges on slide barF6. This fixes the distance be tween the roll 1-1 and cutting blade 45and consequently the thickness to which the blank will be evened orskived corresponding to the thickness of the thinnest spot of the blank.Lower roll 40 yields downwardly to accommodate the thicker parts of theblank.

Upon emerging from the skiving mechanism the blank enters between thetwo delivery rolls 90 and 91which eject the blank "from the skivingmechanism and deliver it to the distributing or sorting mechanism. Thelow or roll 90 is fast on shaft 92 ournaled in stationary hearings onthe frame of the machine and carrying at one end thereof the pinion 93that is continuously driven through an intermediate gear 94 by gear 3%fast on the chain driving shaft 33. The upper roll 91 is fast on shaft95 journaled in bearing blocks 96 which slide in vertical ways upon theinner faces of extensions 97 ot the boxes 53 that carry the upperskiving roll 41. Fastened to the tops of these extensions 97 is a crossbar 98 made with two holes in which are loosely mounted two verticalstems 99. Each stem 99 is tast-ened at its lower end to one of thebearing blocks 96, and is provided at its upper end with adjustable stopnuts 100 which engage the cr ss bar 98 and limit the downward movementof the roll 91.

' The roll 91 has fixed at one end a cam 101 which engages and operatesarm 6. Roll 91 is normally at rest but is rotated by the blank as thelatter passes between the two delivery rolls. WVhen the upper roll 91 isthus rotated the cam 101 acts through arm 6, shaft 7, link 14 and themechanismconnected with shaft 7 already described to start the nextblank on its travel through the machine from the magazine 1. A coilspring 102 surrounds the shaft of the upper delivery roll 91, one end otthe spring being connected with the bearing block 96 and the other tothe end of the roll. Normally this spring under slight stress holds theroll 91 with a shoulder (not shown) against a stop thus holding the cam101 out of engagement with the arm 6. W hen the upper roll 91 is rotatedby the passage of a blank between the two delivery rolls, this spring iswound up and as soon as the lift clears thedelivery rolls, the springacts to restore the roll 91 and its cam to their normal position.

When the blanks have been thus skived ant ejected they are sorted ordistributed. in accordance with the grade detection and in accordancewith the thicknesses to which they have been cut. The sorting anddistributing mechanism comprises a chute 103, preferably made of lightsheet metal fastened to the upper end of a spindle 10 1 that isjournaled in a bracket 105 secured to the frame of the machine, thespindle resting at its lower end against a ball thrust bearing 106. Thisspindle carries a pinion 10? which engages a ck bar 108 mounted to slideon the bracket 105 and connected a; its inner end with one arm of a bellcrank lever 109 fulcrui'i'ied at 110 on the machine frame with its otherarm 109 cuga'ging the under side of a shoe 111 loosely pivoted on rockshaft 82. The shoe 111 normally lies in the path of the blanks as theymove from the detector mechanism to the skivin mechanism, and by reasonof the downward pressure on the blanks ex- -ted by the upper shoe 89each pa. lug blank will depress the shoe 111, and through lever 100,shift the rack bar 108 enowise to the left to the limit of its movementin that directi '1. hen thus actuated the rack bar 1.08 acts throughpinion 107 to rotate the distributor chute 103 to the limit of itsmovement in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown. indotted lines in Fig. 3. This adj ustment of the chute 103 to dotted lineposition is effected by each blank passii'ig through the machine as itapproaches the skiving mechanism. The adjustment of the chute 103 todotted line posit-ion, which may be considered as its starting position,is merely preparatory to the final adjustment of the chute to theposition cmrresponding to the grade of the 1110S- ured and skived blank.l Vhen said starting position corresponds to the detected grade of theblank of course no further adjustment o f the chute takes place.

The chute 103 as herein shown has a pcssible range of adjustment ofapproximately 180 and is automatically controlled and operated by theblanks themselves so as to assume one or another of several positions(eight positions being provided for in 511 present machine) within thelimits of 1 movement thus to provide for the sorting or distributing ofthe different grades of blanks as determined by the machine.

As the blank passes between the delivery rolls 90 and 91, the rotationimparted thereby to the upper roll 91 acts through mechanism including alever 112 to shift the rack bar 108 and consequently to swing the chute103 to a position corresponding to the detected grade of the skivedblank. This mechanism will. be described next.

The upper end of lever 112 is loosely and slidably mounted on the rockshaft 7 while its lower end is made with a slot 113 which engages a longpin 11 i projecting laterally from the rack ear 108. Upon the top sideif the hub of lever 112 there is an upright stud 115 which engages anotch in the end of an arm 11.6 fast to the under side of the slide bar56. This arm 116 of course moves with the slide bar 56 when the latteris ad justed by the detector rolls and consequently shifts the lever 112which is loose on shaft 7, relatively to a cam having stepped surfacesconstituting in effect a series of cams 11'2', seven in number as hereinshown, fast on shaft 95 of the upper delivery roll 91 by sliding thelever 11.2 lengthwise of the rock shaft 7 on which its hub is looselymount-ed. These cams 11? are of different eccentricities or throws, thecam of least throw being at the left hand end of the series as viewed inFig. 2, and other cams progressively increasing in eccentricity towardthe right of the series. The hub of lever 112 is provided with a shortarm 118 which cooperates with the cams 11? as a cam follower. One cam isprovided for each of the different positions to which the chute is to beadjusted excepting for the starting position shown in dotted lines inFig. 3. The part indicated at 119 2) is not a cam but a part of theshaft on which the upper roll 91 is mounted. The

flat side of he cams 117 (Fig. 5) is normally opposite the cam follower118. As has already been stated, when the lift or blank depressestheslioe 111, the lever 109 is swung to the left thus turning the chute103 into dotted line position 3), which is the limit of its movement inthat direction. While the lift is passing between the delivery rolls 90and 91. the roll 91 and its shaft are rotated by the blank. The arm 112and cam follower 118 will already have been adjusted by this blankthrough the slide bar 56 to a position corresponding to the gradedetection of the blank and consequently the cam follower 118 will bepposite one or another of the cams 117 depending on the extent of suchadjustment. Con equently the rotation of the cams by the passage of theblank under roll 91 will swing the arm 112 through the cam follower 118and thus shift the rack bar 108 a distance proportionate to theeccentricity of that cam. The movement of bar 108 swings chute 103 in aclockwise direction from its dotted line position into a positioncorresponding to the eccentricity of the cam by which it is actuated,the

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selection of the cam being determined as described by the thinnest spotof the blank as ascertained by'the detector rolls. The distributor chuteis actuated positively by the cams and the use of springs for thispurpose, as shown in my said former application, is dispensed with. Theblank upon its discharge from the delivery rolls 90 and 91 falls uponthe chute and is directed into a suitable bin. or pile. In this way theevened blanks of different thickness are sorted or distributed.

Both sets of ratchet teeth 64 and 65 on the lever 62 by which thedetecting mechanism sets the slide bar 56 that controls both the Skivingand the sorting are so cut that the distance between two teeth of eitherrack is proportionate to an adjustment of the slide bar 56 sufiicient tovary the skiving and the sorting to a definite extent measured inirons.The lever 112 will therefore be definitely positioned on shaft 7 so asto come exactly opposite one or another of the cams 117. The inclinedwedges 55 and 5 1, which appear in Fig. 2 to have fiatinclined surfacesowing to the small scale upon which the drawings are made, are actuallystepped as indicated on Figs. 1 and 4; and as is common in the Nicholsmachines, the height of the steps being such as to adjust the skivingmechanism definite and predetermined distances measured in irons.

As the blank emerges from the delivery rolls 90 and 91 it acts througharm 6 and the connections previously described to start the next blankinto the machine from the hopper or magazine 1, but the slide bar 56 andconsequently the lever 112 remains undisturbed in the adjusted positionestablished by the preceding blank while the latter is distributed anduntil the next following blank has been advanced from the hopper ormine, at which time the cam 24 actuates s and raises the yoke 76 of theupper detector roll 11. This upward movement of the yoke 7 6 actsthrough the connections alrear 1 described to unlock and shift the slidebar 56 and lover 112 to the limit of their movement toward the right(Fig. 2) unless the slide bar 56 and lever-have already been sopositioned by the preceding blank, but without disturbing the angularposition of the lever 112 the roll 91 and cam 117 having meanwhile beenrestored as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Immediately thereafter the cam 24lowers the yoke 76 and the upper detector roll 11 comes down upon theforward end of the incon'iing blank. The downward movement of thedetector roll results in shifting the slid e bar 56 toward the left asviewed in Fig. 2, the slide bar carrying with it the lever 112, stillwithout disturbing the angular position of said lever. The measuring ofthe blank for its thin spot then proceeds as already described and themeasurement is transmitted to the slide bar 56-which determines theoperative position of the upper skiving roll 41 by setting the steppedWedges 55, and also determines the position of chute actuating arm 112.Thus the chute 103 remains in the position to which it was adjusted bythe preceding blank until the next following blank reaches and operatesthe shoe 111, whereupon the chute goes back to starting position shownin dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Owing to the momentum of the parts there is a tendency for chute 103,rack 108 and associated parts to throw beyond the true posi- (ion towhich they are moved by the cams 117. To obviate this the rack bar 108is provided with a pin or stop 120 projecting from its side andcooperating with a shoulder 121 on an adjustable arm 122. This arm 122is loosely pivoted at 128 for limited universal movement to an arm 12 1which is part of the lever 62. Arm 122 is normally supported against theunder side of a lever 125 by a spring 122, ith the shoulder 121 out ofthe path of the stud 120. The lever 125 is ful crumed at 126 on theframe of the machine and its opposite end is connected by a link 127 toone of the bearing blocks 58, of the upper skiving roll 41. lVhen thelever 62 is angularly adjusted in accordance with the thin spot of theblank being felt of, thus corres )ondinalv adustin' the slide bar 56.

the stop arm; 122 is sin'iultaneously adjusted lengthwise of the rackbar 108. The parts are so proportioned that when the cam following arm118 is opposite one of the cams 117 the arm 124. of lever 62' positionsthe stop bar 122 with its shoulder 121 opposite the position to whichthe slop 120 is, or should be, moved. by. the cam 117 when the outgoingblank rotates the delivery roll 91; and if the cam follower 118 isopposite the part 119 in stead of one of the cams, the stop shoulder 121will occupy the position opposite the position to which the stop 120 isshifted when the blank depresses the shoe 111. Therefore when the ilankpasses between the slriving rolls and thereby raises the upper bearingblock 53 to which the link 1. 7 is connected,

it acts through said link to swing the free end of lever 125 downwardthus depressing the stop arm 122 and bringing the shoulder 121 in thepath of stop 120 and in the position at which the stud 120 should stopwhen the cam 117, which opposite the cam follower 118. acts through thelever 112 to shift the rack bar 108 to the. right or outward from itsposition at the extreme left where it was placed by the blank actingthrough shoe 111. Thus the shoulder 120 will positively arrest anytendency of the chute 103 to carry beyond the position to which itshould be set by the I cam 117.

There is also a tendency for the parts to rebound when brought to anabrupt stop by the shoulder 121. To prevent this I have provided-arebound checking device comprising a lever 132 pivoted on the frame ofthe machine at 133 and yieldingly urged upward toward the rack bar 108by a s iring 135 (Fig. Lever 132has a slot connected to a pin 13G (Figs.2 and 1) on a latch slide 137 mounted in vertical ways on the frame ofthe machine. Said latch slide 137 cooperates with ratchet teeth 129 onthe bottom of rack bar 108. The free end of lever 132 is offset as shownat 132, the end 132 being spaced below the end of an arm 138 fast onrock shaft 82 which carries the arm 81. When the incoming blank passesbetween the detecting rolls it acts through arm 81 to rock the shaft 82and swing arm 138 downwardly causing it to engage the extension 132 anddepress the lever 132, thereby drawing the latching slide 137 downwardout of engagement with the ratchet teeth 129 on rack bar 108. Theincoming blank holds the arm 81 down until after the forward end of theblank has depressed shoe 111 and so shifted the rack 108 to the limit ofits movement toward the left (Figs. 1 and 41).

\Vhen the blank passes off from arm 81 arm 138 swings upward and permitsthe latch 137 to rise. This would lock the rack bar 108 against movementto the left unless the latch were held out of engagement with ratchetteeth 129 until the rack bar 108 has completed its movement to the left.This is accomplished by a pawl 139 pivoted to arm 132 at 128. A spring134 tends to swing the pawl toward and against; the side of the rack bar108. The rack bar 108 has a straight edge along the side of the ratchetteeth 129 adjacent to pawl 139. When the lever 132 is depressed by arm138 the shoulder on pawl 139 snaps under the straight edge of rack bar108 at the side of teeth 129. As soon as the arm 138 moves up andpermits lever 132 to rise the shoulder on pawl 139 engages bar 108 andthus holds the lever 132 down sutliciently to prevent the latch 137 fromentering ratchet teeth 129. As the rack bar 108 continues to move to theleft a cam 131 on the bottom of bar 108 pushes the shoulder of pawl 139off the rack bar 108 and allows the lever 132 to rise and the latch 137to engage the teeth 129 when the rack bar 108 has reached its extremeposition to the left. Therefore, when the rack bar 108 is later shiftedto the right by one of the cams 117 the latch 137 will click over theteeth 129 but will prevent any rebound when the stud 120 strikes thestop shoulder 121.

In the accompanying drawings the machine is shown in the position whichit would assume upon the exhaustion of the supply of blanks from thehopper. Under these con ditions the shafts 92, 39, 42, 3f, 36 and 20, aswell as the feed chain 30, will run idly if thedriving shaft is inmotion, until the clutch lever 18 is manually operated by link 141. Themanual operation of this clutch le ver 18 after the loading of thehopper starts the feed slide 8 and the blanks are fed successivelythrough the machine. As each 'lank upon being ejected from the deliveryrolls 90, 91, automatically actuates the link 141 and clutch lever 18the machine will continue to operate upon blanks fed successively fromthe hopper until the supply is exhausted.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, amovable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positionsaccording to their respective grades, positive means for actuating thedistributor, set-ting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanismadapted to adjust the dist ibutor actuating means in accordance with thedetected grade but without actuating the distributor, and means operatedafter the blank has left the detecting mechanism and during its passagethrough the machine, for actuating the positive distributor actuatingmeans to move the distributor to the position corresponding to the gradedetermined by the detecting mechanism.

2. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, amovable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positionsaccord ing to their respective grades, positive means for actuating thedistributor, setting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanismadapted to adjust the distributor actuating means in accordance with thedetected grade but without actuating the distributor, and means actuatedby the blank itself after the blank has left the detecting mechanism andduring its passage through the machine, for actuating the positivedistributor actuating means to move the distributor to the positioncorresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mechanism.

A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting thegrade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movabledistributor for delivering the blanks into different positions accordingto their respective grades, positive means including a relativelyadjustable cam and cam follower for actuating the distrilmtor, settingmechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism adapted relatively'toadjust said cam and cam follower in accordance with the detected gradebut without actuating the distributor, and means actuated by the blankitself after the blank has left the detecting mechanism and during itspassage through the machine to operate the cam to move the distributorto the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detectingmech anism.

4. A machine of the class-described com prising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, amovable distributor for deliverthe blanks into different positionsecording to their respective grades, positive means including a seriesof cams of different eccentricities and a cam follower adapted to movethe distributor to its'different delivery positions, setting mechanismresponsive to the detecting mechanism including a slide bar adaptedrelatively to adjust said cam follower and earns in accordance With thedetected grade but Without actuating the distributor, and means actuatedby the blank itself after the blank has left the detecting mechanism andduring its passagethrough the machine to actuate the cams and move thedistributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by thedetecting mechanism. a

5. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanksof stock according to thickness, a movabledistributor for delivering the blanks into different positions accordingto their respective grades, setting mechanism responsive to thedetecting mechanism adapted to control the extent of movementof thedistributor, means actuated by the passage of the blank after thedetecting mechanism to cause the distributor to move to its startingposition, and means actuatec by the further passage of the blank forthereafter moving the distributor to the position determined by thedetecting and setting mechanisms.

6. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe rade of successive blanks of stock according to'thickness, a movabledistributor i'i'or delivering the blanks into different positionsaccording to their respective grades, setting mechanism responsive tothe detectin mechanism adapted to control the extent of movement of thedistributor, means actuated by the passage oi? the blank after thedetecting mechanism to cause the distributor to move to its startingposition, means actuated by the further passage of the blank forthereafter moving the distributor to the position determined by thedetecting and setting mechanisms, and means actuated by the motion ofthe detecting mechanism when the latter receives the next blank, torestore the setting mechanism to normal or starting position Withoutdisturbing the position of the distributor.

7. A machine oi the class described comprising mechanism of successiveblanks of stock according to thickness, skiving mechanism adapted toskive the blanks in. accordance with their re spective grades and amovable distributor for delivering the skived blanks into differentpositions according to their respective starting positi for detectingthe gradegrades, setting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechan'adapted to control both the extent o'li j and the extent of mov ment ofthe distributor, mean actuated by the passage of the blank etween thedetecting mechanism and tie skiving mechanism to cause the distributorto move to its starting positi *n, and means actuated bythe passage ofthe blank after the skiving mechanism for moving the distributor to thedistributing posit-ion determined by the detecting and settingmechanisms.

87 A machine oi? the class described compri in mechanism tor detectingthe grade of succ ssive blanks o stock according to thickness, skivingmechanism adapted to skive the blanks in accordance with theirrespective grades and a movable distributor for delivering the skivedblanks into d iilerent positions according to their respective grades,setting mechanism responsive to the cetecting mechanism adapted tocontrol both the extent ol the skiving and the extent of movement of thedistributor, means actuat ed by the passage of the blank between thedetecting mechanism and the skiving mechanism to cause the distrioutorto move to its starting position, means adjustable propori nately to thesetting mechanism and moved i111) operative position by the skivingmechanism for positively arresting the distributor at the end of itsmovement to distributing positien, and means actuated bythe passage ofthe blank after the skiving mechanism for moving the distrilmtor tothedistributing position detern'iined by thedetecting and settingmechanisms.

9. A machine of the class described compriing mmhanism for detecting thegrade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movabledistributor for delivering the blanks into different positions accordinto their respective grades, setting mechanism rospoimive to the d ctingmechanism adapted to control the mt of movement. oi? the distributor,means act ated by the pas sage of the blank after the detectingmechanism to cause the distributor to move to its means act ated by thefun ther passage of the blank torthereaiter moving the distributor tothe posi ion determined by the detecting and setting mechanisms, meansactuated by the cute in blank for causing the detecting mechani, to openand for feedmga succeeding blank thereto, and

means actuated by the motion of the detecting mechanism upon receivingsuch succeeding blank to restore the mechanism to normal or startingposition Without disturbine; the position of the'distributor.

10. A machine of the class described comprising i'nechanism fordetecting the grade of successive blanks oi stock with reference totheir thin spots, a movable distributor tor dehvermn' the blanks into,different iositions according to their respective grades, rela tivelyadjustable ca 1 and earn follower one oi which has stepper surfacesadapted to move the the de ivery riluitor to dillerent positions, tingmechanism responsive to the detecting: mechanism adapted. relatively toadjust said can and cam follower and a roller near the delivery end ofthe machine adapted to be rotated by an outgoing blank to actuate thecam.

11. A machine of the i prising mechanism tor detecting successive blanksof stocr with reference to their tl in spots, a movable distributor "ordelivering' the blanks into differentpoi-alarms according to theirrespective grades, :1 series of cams of different eccentricities and acam follower adapted to move the distributor to its ditlerent deliverypositions, and s i iuq' mechanism responsive to the detect anisui forrelatively shifting;- the cam tollower and cams and a roller near thedelivery end of the machine adapted to be "etated by an outgoing blankto actuate the cans.

121i machine of the class describet com prising grade detecting;mechanism tor detecting the grziide ol successive blanks or stockaccording to thicli'uess, movable distributor for delivering the blanksinto dilierent positions correspending; to their respecti-.e

grades, and settingmechanism including a controller for dctermiiiug theposition to which the distrilmtor is to be adjusted, a series of cams ofdillierent ec-centricities, a cam follower for n oving t io distributorto dirl'erent delivery positions means responsive to the adjustment ofthe controller "for relatively shifting the cam follower and cams, and aroller tear the delivery end or the machine adapted to be rotated by anoutgoing blank to actuate the cams.

13. A machine of the class described comprising ado detecting mechanismfor detecting the grade oi sues class desc"'bed co1ul .5! we grade orive blanl-zs oil: stock according to thickness, a movable distributm'for delivering the blanks into different positions corresponding totheir respective grades, at relatively adjustable cam and cam followerone of which has stepped surfaces adapted to move the distributor to itsdifferent delivery positions, setting inechanisn'i re sponsive to thedetecting mechanism adapted relatively to adjust said cam and camtollower, and a roller fixed to sa'd cam ai'lapteil to be engagedrotated by a blank passing; through the machine to actuate the cam anddistributor.

l-fl. A machine oi the class described comprising grade detectingmechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stockaccording to thickness, a movable istributor for delivering the blanksinto dii'lerent positions corresponding to their respective grades, arelatively adjustable cam and earn fol-lower one of which has steppedsurfaces ,ise

adapted to move the distributor to its different delivery positions,settin m chanism responsive to the detecting mechanism adaptedrelatively to adjust cam and cam tollower, a normally inachve rollerliked to sair cam and adapted to be engaged and re by a blank pa ii nthe machine to actuate the cam and dist ibuter end yielding meansadapted to restore said roller and cams to normal position after eachopcrati 15. A machine of the class described prising inechanisn :tordetectin. the or i. successive blanks oi stool: widi reference theirthin spots,'amovable di, delivering the blanks into differ t positionsaccording to their respective grades, and positive means verned by saidgrade detect inp; mechanism ior movii l' to the position correspondino'to ti 0 tern'rined by the detecting l'lGClltlllli-L means adaptedpositively tributor at the end of its moven'iei'it to its se eraladjusted positions.

16. A machine oi? tile class cescribed coirprisingmechanismford e dsuccessive their thin spotc', a movable i livering; the blanks into iaccording to their respective gositive ineaus Vern-ed bv tectiiginechan'sin for moving f -e dictributor to the position corresponding tothe racle determined by the detecting inechan'sm, means adaptedpositively to arrest the distributor at the end of its nioveniei t toits.

iualiiig to their respec tive z'radcs, setting mechanism responsive c ano; mechanism and means governed by the setting mechanism to move thedistributor in accordance with said grade detection, and means autor;atieally adjustable by the setting inecha in proportionately to theinovcn'ient of tire distributor for positively a resting the distributorat the d oi? its n'iovements to its several adjusted posit-ions,

18. A machine of the class described comprising grade detectingmechanism for detecting the grade cl successive blanks of stockaccording;' to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering theblanks into different positions corresponding to their respective gradesand means automatically adjustable proportionately to the movement ofthe distributor for positively arresting the distributor at the end ofits movements to its several adjusted positions.

the blanks into dillter-v 19. A machine of the class describedcomprising grade detecting mechanism for detecting the grade ofsuccessive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributorfor delivering the blanks into different positions corresponding totheir respective grades, means automatically adjustable proportionatelyto the movement of the distributor for positively arresting thedistributor at the end of its movements to its several adjustedpositions and means to prevent rebound of the distributor when thedistributor is so arrested. I

20. A machine of the class described comprising grade detectingmechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stockaccording to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanksinto different positions corresponding to their respective grades, anormally inoperative stop automatically adjustable proportionately tothe movement of the distributor for positively arresting the distributorat the end of its movements to its several adjusted positions and meanscontrolledby the passage of the blank for moving said stop intooperative position.

21. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to their thinspots, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into differentpositions according to their respective grades, means controlled by thepassage of the blank through the machine to move the distributor to itsstarting position, and means controlled by the passage of the blank forthereafter moving the distributor to the position corresponding to thegrade determined by the detecting mechanism.

22. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to their thinspots, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into differentpositions according to their respective grades, means controlled by thepassage of the blank through the machine to move the distributor to itsstarting position, means controlled by the passage of the blank forthereafter moving the distributor to the position corresponding to thegrade determined by the detecting mechanism and means automaticallyadjustable proportionately to the latter movement of the distributor forpositively arresting the distributor at the end of its said movement.

23. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism fordetectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to theirthin spots, a movable distributor for deliverin the blanks intodifferent positions according to their respective grades, means Ithrough the machine to move the distributor to its starting position,means controlled by the passage of the blank for thereafter moving thedistributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by thedetecting mechanism, means automatically adjustable proportionately tothe latter movement of the distributor for positively arresting thedistributor at the end of its said movement and ratchet and latchmechanism to prevent rebound of the distributor, said ratchet and latchbeing held disengaged until the distributor has been moved to itsstarting position, and engaged while the distributor is moved todelivery position.

24. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to their thinspots, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into differentpositions according to their respective grades, a sliding bar to actuatesaid distributor, means controlled by the passage of the blank throughthe machine to move said bar and distributor to their starting position,and positive means controlled by the passage of the blank for thereaftermoving the bar and distributor to the position corresponding to thegrade determined by the detecting mechanism.

25. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to their thinspots, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into differentpositions according to their respective grades, a sliding bar to actuatesaid distributor, means controlled by the passage of the blank formoving the bar and distributor to the position corresponding to thegrade determined by the detecting mechanism, and an adjustable stop armresponsive to the detecting mechanism for engaging the sliding bar andpositively arresting the distributor at the end of its movement to itsseveral adjusted positions.

26. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, amovable distributor, setting mechanism responsive to the detectingmechanism including a slide bar for governing the extent of movement tobe imparted to the dis tributor, a series of cams of different eccen-LEANDER A. COGSWELL.

